Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-30
KNIGHTS Or LABOR.
4 MESSAGE FROM The EXECUTIVES
To the Order in Regard to the New
Constitution.

PHILADELPHIA, May 2S.-A secret cir
cular OF the Knights of Labor, accompan'
led by printed copies OF the revised consti,
tuition of the Order, and laws governing
National Trade Assemblies, was sent out to
all The local assemblies throughout the
world from the general headquarters, al
Sl4 North Broad street, this week.
Not all of the local assemblies have re.
ceiyed the circular, but within 4 few days
it will have reached all quarters of the
United States and Canada. The full text
reads:
HEADQUARTERS OF
The NOBLE AND Holy ORDER OF
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR OF AMERICA,
PHILADELPHIA, PA, May Il, 1SS1. J
Official Circular No. :.
To the Order Eceryrhere, Greeting:
Herewith is submitted for the approval
of the local assemblies the constitution as
revised by the committee appointed by the
General Assembly at Richmond, October,
lSS6, consisting of the General Executive
iDOtll VI ilNC llGulBtlS vi lliG NiNLlN4d al
sembly.
At the meeting of your assembly next
after the receipt Of this notice, vote must
be taken separately in the two matters
herewith submitted, namely, the revised
constitution and the laws governing ma
tional trade assemblies. The result of the
vote must he given in the blank herewith
sent, and said blank must be in The Office
Of the General Assembly not later than
June 25th, 1887.
II, on the date named, the returns re-
ceived by the General Secretary show a
majority OF those voting to be in favar of
the adoption of one or both of them, then
proper proclamation of that fact TO the Or
der will he made, o and one or both be TT
jected. The old constitution, with such
changes US were adopted at Richmond,
namely, articles ,, 3, 4, :, :, will be sub
mitted a. the constitution of the order
Particular notice: In compiling the duties
of Master Workman of an Assembly, by
some oversight the duty of the sending out
the term pass word where not attached to
a State Assembly was omitted. In voting,
this must be understood as being part OF
the duties of the said officer and the error
be corrected and revision accepted.
Fraternally submitted,
CHARLES II. LITCHMAN,
General Secretary.
The pamphlet accompanying the circu-
lar contains sixty pages, giving the revised
constitution in full and the provisions OF
the law governing district assemblies. The
most important changes recommended are
those declaring rum sellers from member
ship in the order. abOliShing the lo-mnute
discussion on labor questions AT assembly
meetings. and substituting for 1t rule re-
quiring the converting Of monthly meet
ing for the sole discussion of educational
topics: establishing the rule requiring
every local assembly TO obtain permission
of the district assembly before it can 90 on
a strike, and, lastly, restricting the free
dom with which members have heretofore
been allowed to attack higher officers or
members of the General Executive Board.
The formation of National Trade districts
will he permitted rs heretofore, hut those
local assemblies exclusively composed of
one trade but attached t. district assem-
hlv Of mixed nature must first obtain per-
mission OF the District Assembly, then they
must forward the application to the General
Secretary who will lay the matter before all
the local assemblies of the craft in the
country.
1t is thought that this is intended to en-
nance the power of the General Executive
Board over District Assemblies and, rs a
consequence, considerable dissatisfaction
has already been expressed, especially i'll
the Kensington district of this city.